PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Markus Raffo (ranked 1369 p4p, 185 weight class) and Island King (ranked 3046 p4p, 375 weight class). Island King will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Raffo
vs
King

171 cm
19
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

179 cm
26
179 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Markus Raffo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Island King!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raffo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming King to the mat! King manages to get full guard.

King has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Raffo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Raffo dives in and scores a takedown into King's guard.
Raffo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as King works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Raffo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Raffo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as King works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Raffo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Raffo throws a big right hand that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Raffo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
King being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raffo connects with a couple of short punches.
Raffo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Raffo tries to free his leg and advance position but King is retaining full guard.
Raffo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Raffo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Raffo is controlling the pace.
Raffo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
King really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raffo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Raffo.
King keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Raffo seems content to control.
Raffo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
King wants to control but Raffo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Raffo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Raffo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Raffo moves nicely into side control.
Check out the look on Raffo's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
We've been hearing good reports from Raffo's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Raffo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
King is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Raffo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

King bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Raffo's head.
King blocks the body kick.
Raffo shoots in for a double leg but King sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Raffo throws a lazy uppercut
and King counters with a nice uppercut.
Raffo swings away with a body shot that misses
and Raffo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Raffo darts in looking for a takedown but King gets double underhooks and turns Raffo into the cage.
King scores with a punch to the head.

Raffo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Raffo is looking to take a break and control but King is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King tries to buck Raffo off but Raffo is having none of it.
Raffo working the ground and pound from side control.
King is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Raffo off and has taken his back!
King throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
King trying to control.

King is persistently looking for the submission but Raffo is defending it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Raffo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
You can see the frustration on Raffo's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
King looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Raffo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Raffo breaks King's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King looking to control.

King working for a triangle but Raffo defends it easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Raffo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Raffo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

King had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Raffo defends it easily.
Raffo is looking to work some ground and pound but King has wrist control.
Raffo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Island King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

King uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Raffo.
King ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Raffo throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling King to counter with a crisp jab.
Raffo throws a right hand that misses
and King counters with a straight right hand.
King uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Raffo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
King wants to control but Raffo is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Raffo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Raffo controlling the action here.
Raffo tries to pass to full mount but King defends it.
Well, if Raffo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Raffo.
Raffo is taking a breather. King says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Raffo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Raffo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
King tries to roll over but Raffo keeps him under control.
Raffo trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Raffo seems to be working for a kimura but King defends the submission attempt.
Still in half guard, Raffo seems content to control.
Raffo works his way into full mount!
King tries to lock up and control but Raffo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raffo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
King manages to regain half guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Raffo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Raffo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Markus Raffo!
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Markus Raffo!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Markus Raffo!

Markus Raffo wins by unanimous decision!